Christian Pitfalls: Perfectionism

He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8 (ESV )

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 (ESV)

When Jesus commands, ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (Matthew 5:48), He’s commanding us to imitate God…

Especially, in one crucial way: LOVE! Especially, the toughest kind of love: for our enemies! *

He’s NOT advocating perfectionism or telling us to be perfectionists!

“Perfectionists set unrealistically high expectations for themselves and others. They are quick to find fault and overly critical of mistakes. They tend to procrastinate on a project out of their fear of failure. They shrug off compliments and forget to celebrate their success. (Psychology Today) **

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

You’re a lovely group of high achievers… with talent, courage, and the potential to live truly extraordinary lives!

But…

Beware the pitfall of perfectionism! It’s disguised with praise and elevation.

And…

Only ONE sits at the Right Hand of God. Only ONE had enough humility to resist becoming full of Himself: JESUS!

Consider some signs of perfectionism:

  • Griping and complaint… about people, places, things, or yourself! (Complaint is a sin. It’s never okay.)

  • Procrastination… about doing something you’re called to do! (Procrastination is a dream killer.)

  • Dissatisfaction… with good work, thinking it could be “better”! (God’s commands, ‘Be content with what you have’ (Hebrews 13:5).

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Step forward in faith. Work wholeheartedly. Good IS good enough. If you do your best, God WILL do the rest…

‘Being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 1:6).

Christian Pitfalls: Perfectionism (Part 44)

* (Gill’s Exposition on the Bible re Matthew 5:48) “That is to say, not that men may, or can, or ought to be as perfect in love, as to the degree of it, as God is; that is impossible: the "as" here, is not a note of equality, but of likeness: such, who profess God to be their Father, ought to imitate him, particularly in their love to men, which ought to be extended to the same objects, as the divine goodness is; that, as he shows regard in a providential way to all men, good and bad, just and unjust, and his tender mercies are over all his works; so ought they to love all men with a natural affection, and hate no man, no, not their enemies: for he that loves only his friends, and not his enemies, loves imperfectly.”  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/5-48.htm

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban